Sen. Bill Cassidy, Sen. Susan Collins introduce health care plan to replace Affordable Care Act
Updated: 12:54 PM CST Jan 23, 2017
Kelsey Davis
Reporter
WASHINGTON, D.C —
Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy and Maine Sen. Susan Collins introduced a new measure intended to replace the Affordable Care Act.
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The Republican lawmakers said the Patient Freedom Act of 2017 will increase the access to high-quality and affordable health care to all Americans, improve patient choice and make sure more people get covered.
“Health insurance works by having a lot of healthy people and you distribute the cost of care for the more expensive to care for over the many healthy,” said Cassidy.
But Cassidy said the biggest thing this three-option bill would do is return power to states.
“Congress would pass legislation allowing states the choice to opt into the alternative, they could opt to stay in Obamacare, or they could opt for no federal help,” said Cassidy.
The alternative option allows states to cover the uninsured residents with funds from health savings accounts.
“By providing a standard plan that had a high deductible, a basic pharmaceutical coverage, some preventive care such as free childhood immunizations,” said Collins.
Collins said the alternative option would allow states to receive the same amount of funding that they would get under Obamacare and for expanding Medicaid, even if they hadn't already expanded that coverage.
While Collins said the plan isn't perfect, she said moves must be made now to replace the plan currently in place.
“This will help protect, moving forward, families who rely on the program and give insurers time to transition to a new marketplace that is based on more choices for consumers” said Collins. “By giving states options that they can tailor to meet the needs of its citizens, I am hopeful that we have come up with a proposal that could attract bipartisan support.”
So how soon are lawmakers hoping to get this plan rolling? Cassidy said that if Congress repeals and replaces the ACA this year, states could select the option that best suits its population by 2018 and implement it by 2019, and the change would be complete by 2020.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, Sen. Susan Collins introduce health care plan to replace Affordable Care Act
Edit on phone copying full link and pasting
Updated: 12:54 PM CST Jan 23, 2017
Kelsey Davis
Reporter
WASHINGTON, D.C —
Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy and Maine Sen. Susan Collins introduced a new measure intended to replace the Affordable Care Act.
RELATED CONTENT
President Trump signs executive order 'easing burden of Affordable Care Act'
Tuesday at midnight is the deadline to enroll for Affordable Care Act coverage
Gov. Edwards 'anxious' about changes to Affordable Care Act
Affordable Care Act plans see 102,000 new Louisiana customers
The Republican lawmakers said the Patient Freedom Act of 2017 will increase the access to high-quality and affordable health care to all Americans, improve patient choice and make sure more people get covered.
“Health insurance works by having a lot of healthy people and you distribute the cost of care for the more expensive to care for over the many healthy,” said Cassidy.
But Cassidy said the biggest thing this three-option bill would do is return power to states.
“Congress would pass legislation allowing states the choice to opt into the alternative, they could opt to stay in Obamacare, or they could opt for no federal help,” said Cassidy.
The alternative option allows states to cover the uninsured residents with funds from health savings accounts.
“By providing a standard plan that had a high deductible, a basic pharmaceutical coverage, some preventive care such as free childhood immunizations,” said Collins.
Collins said the alternative option would allow states to receive the same amount of funding that they would get under Obamacare and for expanding Medicaid, even if they hadn't already expanded that coverage.
While Collins said the plan isn't perfect, she said moves must be made now to replace the plan currently in place.
“This will help protect, moving forward, families who rely on the program and give insurers time to transition to a new marketplace that is based on more choices for consumers” said Collins. “By giving states options that they can tailor to meet the needs of its citizens, I am hopeful that we have come up with a proposal that could attract bipartisan support.”
So how soon are lawmakers hoping to get this plan rolling? Cassidy said that if Congress repeals and replaces the ACA this year, states could select the option that best suits its population by 2018 and implement it by 2019, and the change would be complete by 2020.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, Sen. Susan Collins introduce health care plan to replace Affordable Care Act
Edit on phone copying full link and pasting
Last edited:
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